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Arysta LifeScience Receives U.S. Registration for MIDAS(R); Paves Way to Address Global Phase out of Methyl Bromide

CARY, N.C., October 8 /CNW/ - Arysta LifeScience today announced that the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted commercial registration
for one year to MIDAS(R), a broad-spectrum soil fumigant that effectively
controls a broad range of soil-borne diseases, nematodes, weed seeds and
insects that threaten high-value crops such as ornamentals, strawberries,
tomatoes, peppers, stone fruit, nuts and vines, as well as turf. MIDAS(R) will
be widely available through select fumigant distributors by October 2007.
MIDAS(R) was developed to help growers with the phase out of methyl
bromide under the Montreal Protocol. Worldwide, about 72,000 tons of methyl
bromide are used each year according to U.S. EPA data. North America uses
about 27,000 tons annually, 85 percent of which is used for soil fumigation.
Growers around the world have long relied on methyl bromide as their choice
fumigant and the phase out has left growers with few effective broad-spectrum
choices.
"MIDAS(R) is the fumigant answer for which many growers have been
looking," said Mike Allan, Global Product Manager for MIDAS(R). "MIDAS(R) is
the right foundation for success for growers because it provides
broad-spectrum control of target pests and diseases and uses conventional
application techniques and equipment. MIDAS(R) has been proven to be as
effective as methyl bromide at lower application rates."
MIDAS(R) is considered a foundation crop protection product because it is
applied pre-plant to bare soil. MIDAS(R) provides broad-spectrum crop
protection which can reduce the overall chemical need and helps establish a
strong healthy crop that delivers high yields. In trials in the Southeast
U.S., half of the growers who participated saw an increase in yield over their
methyl bromide-treated acreage. The remaining growers saw results similar to
those achieved with methyl bromide.
"This registration, after many years of hard work on the part of the
Arysta team, is further evidence of our company's dedication to our grower
partners," said Bill Lewis, CEO of Arysta LifeScience North America
Corporation. "Throughout the regulatory process, we have remained committed to
our principles of partnership with the agriculture community."
MIDAS(R) has been in use under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in
Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Virginia since 2006. The EPA added test acreage in California in 2007. The
company used these trials to evaluate efficacy, market yields and economic
comparisons across several crops. Half of the growers who participated saw, on
average, a 19 percent yield increase compared to methyl bromide on
side-by-side trials on commercial acreage. The remaining growers saw results
similar to those achieved with methyl bromide. Crops raised under the EUP are
approved for sale to the market.
MIDAS(R) is the first new soil fumigant to be registered by the EPA in 20
years. A comprehensive data package supports the product label. Arysta is
committed to ensuring proper handling and application of MIDAS(R) through the
Arysta Certified Applicator Training Program. In an effort to further ensure
protection of workers and bystanders, the EPA has implemented buffer zones
that are scalable based upon fumigant rate and number of acres applied. This
will allow growers more control over their fumigant use. MIDAS(R) is approved
for use on strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, ornamentals, stone fruits, nut
crops, vine crops (including table and wine grapes), turf and nursery crops.
Arysta continues to build international support for MIDAS(R) with trials
in many countries including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Morocco,
South Africa, Israel, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico and Chile.
The registration is further evidence of Arysta LifeScience's presence in
the high-value fruit and vegetable crop market, which represents approximately
US$8 billion in sales in 2006. MIDAS(R) is a complement to the company's
existing crop protection products that are used on crops ranging from corn and
soybeans to fruits, nut trees and nursery crops.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Arysta LifeScience is the world's largest
privately held crop protection and life science company with 2006 revenues of
Yen 124.1 billion (US$1 billion). An entrepreneurial provider of crop
protection and life science products in more than 125 countries worldwide,
Arysta LifeScience specializes in the marketing and distribution of respected
crop protection brands and life science products in harmony with the needs of
global producers. More information on the company is available at:
www.arystalifescience.com